St. Joseph the Worker

Parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker:

This coming Wednesday, Feb. 14^th, begins a special journey for us.  We enter our Season of Lent by celebrating that day of holiness—Ash Wednesday.

This is the day that countless numbers of Catholics will flock to their churches to celebrate the Eucharist and to receive the sign of Lent—ASHES.  These ashes are a reminder of us giving of ourselves over the next 40 days, dying to ourselves through prayer, sacrifice, and almsgiving.  This special time enables us to rid our lives of sin and to grow closer to the Lord who gave of Himself for us on the Cross.

A wonderful way to begin the Lenten journey is to come to Mass on that day—8:30am or 5:30pm.  During these Masses, ashes will be distributed.  Proudly, yet humbly, wear them as a sign of commitment and dedication.  Wear them as an outward sign of what we pray will occur inside our hearts and souls—rising from dust to a better way of life.  Wear them as evidence of your Catholic faith in 2024.

For Lent, there will be special services and prayer opportunities.  Please refer to the Lenten information sheet in the bulletin, the NYCU, and the parish website.  Let us join together in these public displays of our Lenten prayer.  Remember the Lord’s words: “Where two or three are gathered, there am I in their midst.”

Know of my special prayers for all of you during this upcoming penitential season.  May these 40 days renew our parish, purify our parish, and bless our parish with a newfound sense of stewardship and faith. 

Your Fellow Lenten Journeyer, Father Joe

P.S.  This year Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day.  Let us not forget that Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence for those affected.  (Refer to the Lenten information sheet.)  This is one of two days that the Catholic Church calls us to fast and abstain, the other being Good Friday.  Therefore, there will be no dispensation given by me for Ash Wednesday.  You may celebrate Valentine’s a day early or a day late.